Rotary engine.



O. CHYRISTOFFERSBN. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED mm; 2 1911.

1,01 9,223, Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES NVENTOR 0. GHRISTOFFERSEN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1911.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NM NM.

Q mvsmon RII CHRISTOFFER CHRISTOFFERSEN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

Application filed June 20, 1911. Serial No. 634,200.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Crmrsrorrnn CHRIs 'rorrnnsnn, a subject of the King of Non way, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary engines and more particularly to a type of geared abutment engine, and has for an object to provide an engine utilizing a minimum amount of steam in order to produce a maximum amount of work, and in sov arranging and organizing the elements and adjuncts as to materially reduce the losses due to leakage, friction and causes of a like nature. In rotary engines, as heretofore constructed, it has been proposed to introduce the motive fluid through nozzles located exterior of the expansion chambers, and it has been found in practice that such a construction necessitates a clearance space of such size as to cause considerable loss of motive fluid and also increases the loss due to condensation. It has also been. found in such a construction that the inlet ports cannot be made sufficiently large to permit the admission of the proper quantity of the motive fluid for the maximum work and the highest efliciency.

In my present invention I have devised a novel construction wherein the motive fluid is introduced at a point interior of the r0- tatable members, and there is provided within the latter a steam chest or receiver from which the motive fluid is conducted to the expansion chambers by way of a plurality of ports so designed and arranged as to permit the passage of a proportionate supply of motive fluid to the work desired.

It has for a further object, the utilization of the pressure of the motive fluid to maintain certain of the parts in fluid. tight relation so that there will be no leakage at the joints formed therebetween, and furthermore wear between the several parts will be automatically taken up.

It has for a further object to provide a simple and effective mechanism for taking up the wear between moving and stationary parts so that all the parts are held together and in place to form steam tight joints and distribute the motive fluid within the engine so as to cause equal expansion throughout.

Figure 1 represents a section in side elevation of an engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a detail of the valve mechanism. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 00m of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a plan of the engine partly in section. Fig. 5 represents a detail of one of the abutments.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings :1 designates the casing of an engine embodying my invention, the same having, in the present instance, the heads 2 and 3 secured thereto by studs .t or equivalent fastening devices and provided with apertured bosses 5 forming stufling boxes for suitable spindles 6, the function of which latter will presently be disclosed.

7 designates a boss preferably formed at substantially the center of each of the heads 2 and 3 and forming a stuffing box for the main shaft 8 of the engine, it being noted that the said shaft projects on either side of the casing 1. As here shown the bosses 7 extend inwardly from the heads 2 and 3 and are spaced from the shaft 8 in order to provide for the bushings 9, in the rear of which is located the usual packing and gland structures 10. In the present instance, a lug 11 is formed integral with each boss 7, on either side thereof, and is adapted to seat within a slot or groove 12 formed in each side of the valve members 13, whereby the latter are held stationary and fixed relative to the shaft 8 and its moving adjuncts. These valves 13 are provided with a suitable hub 14 through which the shaft 8 passes and are positioned, in the present instance, within a drum 15 preferably formed integral with the shaft 8 through the medium of the stroke members 16. It will thus'be apparent that rotation of the drum 15 causes the shaft 8 to rotate also, whereby the relation of the valves 13 therewith is varied and provision thus made for admitting and exhausting motive fluid from the expansion chambers. The drum 15 is preferably provided with a plurality of ports 17 passing radially therethrough with respect to the shaft 8, and forming a communication be tween the motive fluid chest 18 and the space 19, the latter performing the function of an expansion chamber. In order to prevent leakage through the joint formed between the casing 1 and the ends of the drum 15, suitable packing rings 20 are provided and located in a suitable recess in the ends of the said drum being firmly pressed outwardly against the head by means of springs 21 to form a pressure fluid tight joint.

23 designates blocks, preferably, extending the length of the drum 15 and fixedly secure-d thereto, in the present instance by a dovetail joint 24, each of said blocks being located in alinement with the ports 17 and having angularly disposed openings 25 therethrough forming nozzles adapted to direct the motive fluid in a suitable direction for proper operation of the parts. It will be noted that these blocks preferably extend radially across the space 19 and substantially abut the inner wall of the casing l and in order that there may be no leakage at the joint therebetween, suitable packing 26 is located in the contact face thereof for the purpose desired.

27 designates a motive fluid inlet communicating with the steam chest 18 and from which the said fluid is delivered by way of the nozzles 25 to the space 19. These nozzles 25 discharge the steam toward the abutments 28 there being, in the present instance, two of these abutments disposed diametrically with respect to the shaft 8. As here shown the abutments 28 each comprise a substantially cylindrical member fixedly secured or integral with the spindle 6 and provided in one side thereof with a groove 29, the inner face of which is preferably of a suitable curvature to give the desired re sults, and the said groove is of sufficient size to receive and permit passage of the projecting blocks 23 of the drum 15. Attention is directed to the relative sizes of the abutments 28 and drum 15, the former as here shown having a diameter one-half that of the drum in order that the parts may rotate in contact without sliding.

30 and 31 designate bearings located at suitable points about the circumference of each abutment 28 and held in operative position by means of the bolts 32 or like fastening devices, having engagement with the casing 1. In the present instance, the hearing members 30 are provided with grooves 32*, on the contact or hearing face thereof, whereby motive fluid may pass back of the abutments 28 and normally hold the same in close contact with the ungrooved bearing member 31 and the drum or rotor 15.

In connection with this construction it will be noted that a slight clearance-33 is provided between the abutments 28 and the casing 1, whereby the desired pressure fluid is admitted back of the said abutments.

In order to take up wear between the abutments 28 and their adjuncts, the hearing members 30 and 31 are preferably beveled on one face as shown at 33 for coaction with the wedge member 341 which is suitably apertured to permit the bolts 32 to pass therethrough. The beveled face 33 permits a wedging action between the wedge member 34 and its adjacent bearing member so that when a liner or the like is inserted, the looseness due to wear may be taken up.

Each of the spindles 6 on which the abutments 28 are carried, project at either side of the casing 1 and are mounted in bearings 37 which are of usual construction, it being noted that suitable packing 35 is placed in the boxes 5 and held by the customary glands 36.

38 designates a gear fixedly secured to one end of each spindle 6 and normally in mesh with a gear 39 carried by the main shaft 8, and by which the spindles 6 and abutments 28 are rotated at the same time that the shaft 8 is rotated. It will of course be understood that the relation between the gears 38 and 39 is such as to produce two revolutions of each of the abutments 28 to one revolution of the main shaft 8 and its rotative adjuncts. The importance of this will be observed since the grooves 24 of the said abutments 28 must be properly positioned with respect to the nozzle block 23 during the rotation of the parts, as otherwise the device would be inoperative as will be apparent.

40 designates the exhaust outlets for each space 19 whereby the motive fluid is released to the atmosphere after completing a working stroke.

Inv the operation of the device with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 1, motive fluid is admitted to the steam chest 18 and as soon as the drum 15 has been turned relative to the valves 13 to open the ports 17, the said fluid passes through these ports and nozzles 25 discharging against the face of the abutments 28, which will be understood are moving in the same direction as the nozzle blocks 23. The reaction and expansion of the motive fluid in this space causes the drum 15 and shaft 8 'to rotate and the action continues until the ports 17 again reach the valves 13, whereupon cut off takes place and the remainder of the stroke is accomplished by the expansion of the motive fluid. After one-half of a revolution the space 19 on either side of the drum 15 is brought into communication with the exhaust outlet 40 and the parts continue moving until the nozzles 25 again return to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the ports 17 reach the point of admission as controlled by the said valves 13.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a complete, unitary structure, simple in construction, eflicient in operation and wherein the parts are so arranged as to reduce the leakage and friction losses to a minimum, resulting in the maximum power developed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary engine, a casing, a main shaft rotatably carried thereby, a drum secured to said shaft forming a motive fluid chest on the interior thereof and expansion chambers on the exterior thereof, means to admit motive fluid to said chest, a plurality of oppositely disposed series of ports in said drum arranged in pairs and forming a com munication between said chest and said expansion chambers, a fixedly mounted valve for each pair of series adapted to control the admission and cut off of motive fluid from said expansion chambers, blocks secured to said drum, a plurality of abutments rotatably mounted adjacent said drum and adapted to coact therewith, each of said abutments having a recess therein adapted to receive each block and an exhaust outlet from the expansion chamber.

2. In a rotary engine, a casing, a main shaft rotatably carried thereby, a drum secured to said shaft forming a motive fluid chest on the interior thereof and expansion chambers on the exterior thereof, a series of ports formed in each side of said drum, nozzle members secured to said drum in alinement with each series of ports and projecting transverse of each expansion chamber, a plurality of abutments rotatably mounted adjacent said drum and adapted to contact therewith, each of said abutments having a recess therein adapted to receive each nozzle member, a motive fluid inlet communicating with said chest, a valve adapted to control each series of ports, and an exhaust outlet from each expansion chamber.

3. In a rotary engine, a casing, a main shaft rotatably carried thereby, a drum secured to said shaft forming a motive fluid chest on the interior thereof and expansion chambers on the exterior thereof, a series of ports formed in each side of said drum and adapted to contact therewith, a bearing on one side of each abutment having grooves in the contact face thereof, a second bearing oppositely disposed with respect thereto, said grooves serving to admit pressure fluid back of said abutments, a motive fluid inlet communicating with said chest, a valve adapted to control each series of ports, and an exhaust outlet from each expansion chamber.

4:. In a rotary engine, a casing, a main shaft rotatably carried thereby, a drum secured to said shaft forming a motive fluid chest on the interior thereof, and expansion chambers on the exterior thereof, a series of ports formed in each side of said drum and adapted to contact therewith, a plurality of bearings contacting with each abu'tment and having grooves in the contact face thereof, another bearing oppositely disposed with relation to said first mentioned bearings, said grooves serving to admit pres sure fluid back of said abutments, a motive fluid inlet communicating with said chest, a valve adapted to control each series of ports, and an exhaust outlet from each expansion chamber.

5. In a rotary engine, a casing, a main shaft and a plurality of spindles rotatably carried thereby, a drum spaced from said shaft and from said casing forming respectively a motive fluid chest and expansion chambers, ports in said drum arranged in oppositely disposed series, blocks carried by said drum and projecting transverse of each expansion chamber, each block having passages therethrough in alinement with said ports, packing between said blocks and said casing, an inlet and an outlet for motive fluid, abutments rotatably mounted in said casing at diametrically opposite points, means to rotate said abutments, packing between each abutment and said casing, means to adjust said packing, and means to control the admission of motive fluid to said expansion chambers.

6. In a rotary engine, a casing, a main shaft and a plurality of spindles rotatably carried thereby, a drum spaced from said shaft and said casing forming respectively a motive fluid chest and expansion chambers, means to secure said drum and shaft together, ports in said drum arranged in oppositely disposed series, valves mounted within said drum and adapted to control the admission of motive fluid to said expansion chambers, blocks carried by said drum and projecting transverse of said expansion chambers, each block having a pas sage therethrough in alinement with said ports, packing between said blocks and said caslng, an inlet and an outlet for motive fluid, abutments rotatably mounted in said casing at diametrically opposite points, and means to rotate said abutments with said shaft.

7. In a rotary engine, a casing, a main7120 shaft and a plurality of spindles rotatably carried thereby, a drum spaced from said shaft and said casing forming respectively a motive fluid chest and expansion chambers, means to secure said drum and shaft together, ports in said drum arranged in oppositely disposed series, valves mounted within said drum and adapted to control the admission ofmotive fluid to said expansion chambers, blocks carried by said drum and projecting transverse of said exmeans to rotate said abutments, packing bepansion chambers, each block having pastween each abutment and said casing, and sages therethrough in alinement with said means to adjust said packing.

ports, packing between said blocks and said CHRISTOFFER OHRISTOFFERSEN.

casing, an inlet and an outlet for motive WVitnesses: fluid, abutments rotatably mounted in said ROBERT M. BARR, casing at dlametrically opposite points C. D. McVAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

